Canoe transporting rack



April 1968 c. M. STEVENS ETAL 3,375,960

CANOE TRANSPORTING BACK Filed Sept. 28, 1966 INVENTOR. CHARLES M. STEVENS BY LOREN N. STEVENS Unted States Patent 3,375,960 CANOE TRANSPORTING RACK Charles M. Stevens, 44681 Camellia Drive, Fremont, Calif. 92804, and Loten N. Stevens, 2117 Placer Drive, San Leandro, Calif. 94578 Filed Sept. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 582,700 3 Claims. (Cl. 224--42.11)

ABSTRAC'I OF THE DISCLOSURE A supporting frame is described by which a canoe or the like boat can be transported in an inclined and balanced position on the back of a pack animal. The frame includes a generally rectangular man frame which has supportng brackets at each of its corners adapted to receive the gunwales of a canoe. Each of the canoe supporting brackets is rotatably mounted on a slide member whose lateral positioning relative to the man frame can be adjusted whereby the rack can support dierently sized canoes in a stable and balanced condition. Leg strnctures depend centrally from the main frame and the lower end portion of each is adapted to be received within a saddle bag or the like on the pack animal. The lower ends of each of the leg structures is angularly related to the main frame so that the main frame is inclned with respect to the back of the pack animal when the lower porlions of the leg structures are received within the saddle bags whereby the forward end of the canoe can extend over the head of the pack animal.

This invention generally relates to supporting frames or racks, and is more particularly drected to a rack adapted to support a canoe or like boat during transport of the latter.

In many instances, campers, fishermen or like outdoor enthusiasts, transport a canoe through areas in which motor vehicles are either prohibited by law or precluded by the nature of the terrain. Accordingly, such persons have a choice of either personally carrying the canoe, or of using a pack mule or similar =animal for such purpose. Heretofore, there has been no practical method of packing a canoe on an animal, partcularly since the length, wdth and weight of various canoes may vary considerably.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a canoe supporting frame or rack which may be used to support a canoe during the transport thereof, and which is particularly adapted, although not exclusively limited, to use -on a mule or srnilar pack animal.

Another object of the inventon is to provide apparatus of the character described which is simple in construction, light in weight, and which may be easily and readily mounted on or removed from a pack anirnal.

A further object of this inventon is to provide apparatus of the above type which is easily adjusted so as to accommodate canoes of different sizes while stll maintaning the sarne in a desred balanced and stable condition over the pack animal.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accornpanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the show ing made by the said drawing and descrption may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspectve view of the raak apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus mounted on a pack anirnal and supporting a canoe for transport.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable canoe engaging brackets and supports.

The apparatus of the present invention as illustrated in the drawng is specifically ad-apted to be mounted on a pack animal, such as a rnule 6, although certain features of our apparatus are likewise applicable to other forms of transport. Such apparatus, generally designated by the numeral 7, when operatively postioned on the animal 6, will support a canoe 8 in a proper balanced position shown in FIGURE 2.

In broad terms, our rack consists of a generally horizontal frame 9 having adjustable canoe engaging bracket and support means 12 adjacent the ends thereof, and generally vertical frame members or leg structures 13 by means of which the frame 9 may be supported in spaced overlying relation to the back of the mule 6.

More specifically, and referring first to the frame 9, the same is preferably constructed of metal tubing, and includes parallel sides 16 and transverse ends 17 defining a generally fiat rectangular configuration. Each end has a rgid arm 18 formed of angle iron or the like secured thereto such as by welding, and with one flange 19 thereof horizontally disposed over the end 17. The bracket and support means 12 are in turn supported on the arms 18.

As here shown, each arm 18 is provided with a plurality of studs 21 extending upwardly from flange 19. Overlying the ends of the arm 18 is a pair of angle iron slides 22. The horizontal flange 23 of each slide is provided with elongated slots 24 through which the studs 21 extend and which thereby permit the slides 2.2 to be moved along the ends 17 and perpendicular to the sides 16. Suitable washers 26, look washers 27 and nuts 28 may then be used to mantain the slides in any desired transverse position, and as will be noted, each slide may be translated independently of the other.

Carried on each slide 22 is a canoe supporting bracket 31. Such bracket is preferably of semi-cylindrical crosssectional configuration, and includes a downwardly extending sud 32 adapted to enter an aperture 33 in slide fiange 23 and be rotatable therein whereby the bracket may be disposed either parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame 9, perpendicular thereto or at any intermediate angular disposition relatve thereto. Suitable washer and nut elements, generally indicated at 34 are used to engage the stud 32 and retain the bracket in its desired oriented position.

Extending between the center portions of sides 16 is a transverse rod 36 on which brackets 37 smilar to brackets 31 are positioned, but preferably in fixed algned relation adjacent the ends of the rod.

The above described frame 9 can be used to support the canoe 8 in the following manner. The normally provded center crossbar of the canoe may be positioned on the brackets 37. Depending on the W1dtl'l of the canoe, the slides 22 will be moved laterally until the brackets 31 are postioned subjacent portions of the gunwales of the canoe and thus serve as a support for the same. Since the gunwales usually taper towards the ends of the canoe, the brackets may be rotated relative to their slides and then secured in such position by the nut assembly 34. It will be clear that this type of arrangement could be use-d in many different environments.

In the present case, the frame 9 is adapted to be supported on the frame member 13 so that the entire unit may be carried on the pack mule 6 The frame member 13 is formed of tubular members and is of generally inverted U-shaped configuration. As shown, it includes parallel transverse rods 41 extending between and secured to the undersurface of sides 16 on opposed sides of rod 36. Degs 35 and 38 extend downwardly from each end of rocls 36, and the lower ends of each pair of legs is provided with a connecting bar 39. Leg 28 of each pair is longer than leg 35, so that each bar 39, while subjaoent 0ne side 16 of frame 9, is angularly related thereto. Suitable cross-bracing 45 extends between each set of legs and bracing 42 and 43 between a media] portion of each leg and sides 16 of the main frame 9 adjacent the ends of the latter.

As may be known to persons familiar With pack animals, they are conventionally provided with a pack saddle 46 placed over a blanket 47 and secured in place by check straps 48, back straps 49 and cinches 51. A generally rectangular saddle bag 52 is provided on each side, and such bags are adapted to receive the lower portions of frame 13, namely bars 39 and the adjacent portions of legs 35 and 38. With the bars 39 generally horizontally disposed, and the legs 35 and 38 vertically disposed the frame 9 will be angularly inclined as shown in FIGURE 2, as will be the canoe supported therein. Any suitable line 54 may be used to hold the canoe in place and as here shown, the line includes a cinch strap 56 so that t embraces the pack mule rather than merely beng lashed to the rack itself.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the rack may be readily positioned on the mule by merely dropping the opposte portions of the frame members 13 into the opposed saddle bags. T116 canoe may then be placed on the frame 9 and the brackets 31 adjusted to fit under, engage and support adjacent gunwale portions. Since the brackets are capable of complete rotation, they can also accommodate cross-members of the canoe rather than the gunwales in some instances.

What is claimed is:

1.. A supporting rack comprsing a generally rectangular planar main frame, a slide member disposed at each corner of sad frame, mounting means interconnecting each of sad slide members to sad frame adjacent sad corner for lateral movement relative to sad frame, means for locking sad slide members in desired lateral locations relative to sad frame, a supportng bracket of arcuate cross sectional configuration rotatably mounted on each of sad slide members with the concave portion thereof uppermost, means for lockng each of sad braakets in desired angular relationships with respect to its associated slide member, sad slide member and bracket mounting structure thereby allowing both the lateral and rotational positioning of each individual bracket relative to the main frame to be individually adjusted whereby the load to be supported by said brackets can be balanced and centered on sad frame, and a frame section depending centrally from sad rectangular main frame.

2. A supporting rack as set forth in claim 1 especially adapted for mounting on a pack animal having a pack saddle bag or the like on each side thereof, sad depending frame structure comprising generally parallel leg structures depending centrally from sad main frame at each side thereof, the lower portion of sad leg structures being adapted to be received in sad saddle bags or the like, and the lower ends of sad legs structures being angularly related to the plane of sad main frame whereby sad main frame is held in an upwardly inclined position above the back of sad animal when sad lower leg portions are received within sad saddle bags.

3. A supporting rack as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of sad supporting brackets is adapted to receive the gunwale of a canoe or like boat and includes a downwardly extending stud adapted to be rotatably received through an aperture in its associacted slide member to provide sad rotatable mounting thereof, and wherein sad mounting means interconnecting each of sad slide mem bers to sad frame for lateral movement relative to sad frame includes a threaded stud secured to one of sad slide member and sad frame and a laterally extending slot in the other of said slide member and sad frame through which sad stud extends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,434,387 1/1948 Brandt 224-42.1 2,470,848 5/1949 Guest 22442.1 3,203,604 8/1965 Spence .22442.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 105,322 8/1942 Sweden.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Prima/y Examner.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examner. 

